Basic information
Experience
Do
Impact
Directly impacted families:
40
Start collaboration:
2018
Project description
Before the arrival of tourists, Cartagena was populated by people of African descent. Just beyond the walls of the city is La Boquilla, a traditional fishing village close to the Caribbean Sea and full of mangroves. Ecotours La Boquilla is a project formed by the fishermen to improve the quality of life of their community and the surrounding environment. They use tourism to let people know about their traditional culture and protect the mangroves. Along with taking visitors on a tour of the ecosystem, they invite guests to experience a day of traditional fishing. These activities are complemented by classes in Caribbean cooking and cumbia drumming. Travelers get a sense of Afro-Colombian culture, and see an authentic side of the country off the beaten tourism trail.
Involvement of V Social
The VSocial Foundation has been supporting this project since 2018. We were able to help add an international component to their tourism efforts, as well as provide financing so that they were able to be certified as a community tourism project. During the pandemic, we contributed to food sustainability initiatives. VSocial has provided training workshops to Ecotours La Boquilla, as well as funds for infrastructure and machinery. We also send travelers from Viventura and other agencies to support local tourism efforts.
Directly impacted families:
40
Start collaboration:
2018
Your impact
La Boquilla
Country: Colombia
Approximately 25 families, hired or connected to tourism and culture in La Boquilla, benefit from this project. This means not only those providing tourist services, but also those supplying food or goods to visitors. Importantly, it gives opportunities to the Black community who have been displaced by mass tourism in Cartagena or faced racial discrimination. Ecotours La Boquilla’s focus on the environment and responsible fishing has helped to preserve the fragile ecosystem. These combined efforts have made the project a national benchmark for tourism initiatives.
Their story
